Bottas praises Hamilton: "Impressive that he can still develop"

Lewis Hamilton is aiming for a re-match this season to secure a record-breaking eighth world title. Valtteri Bottas would have loved to help him with that challenge, but he must make way for young talent George Russell in 2022. Still, the Finn does not miss an opportunity to praise his former teammate.

Bottas drove alongside Hamilton at Mercedes for five years and helped the constructor to eight consecutive titles. During that time, he also saw the Briton grow and develop his own talents to stay upfront.

The Finn is particularly impressed with the development he has seen each year from his teammate. "He has such a great experience in Formula 1, yet he has been able to always keep learning and getting better and better," he says in conversation with Formula1.com.

Bottas believes that he has also developed himself as a driver each year, but thus sees the same development in Hamilton. "It doesn't happen by itself," the 32-year-old Finn continued. "He works for it because he knows that the competition is always getting tougher. I've definitely learned a lot from him, but it's just impressive that he can still develop."

According to Bottas, the 37-year-old Briton always wants to get more out of himself and the team around him, so he sees him getting better and better. That trait could be of great help to Hamilton in the upcoming Formula One season, which marks the beginning of a new era.